Explore the world & get lost with louie

Photo Essay: Chile

The excitement of waking up everyday in a foreign country ended three weeks ago to the day. We have moved back into our apartment, we are back at work and we have caught up with almost everyone we hold near and dear. The reality of being home is finally beginning to sink in!

In an effort to sort through the thousands of photos from our South American adventure, and to inspire me for the next trip, I’ve decided to undertake a series of short posts on some of the places we visited over the last six months that didn’t get a mention in my earlier posts, and of course some that did.

Thinking back over the last six months brings me joy. I think back to some of the people we met along the way, the funny things they said, their quirkiness and the closeness we shared. I remember the feeling of freedom when we hiked into the Los Glaciares National Park with nothing but a tent, sleeping bag and a supply of simple food. I smile as I reflect on the glorious 10 minutes when I felt weightless hang gliding over favelas and beaches of Rio that I had for so long dreamt of seeing with my own eyes.

This trip was life changing. After years of travelling and feeling guilty for not being as career-oriented as my friends, I finally accepted that I will forever find myself with an inclination to pack my belongings and take off to some far-flung corner of the world. I am now happy in my own skin. I have accepted that there is nothing wrong with wanting more, to see more, to experience it all. I now use this as my motivation now that I am back behind a desk using my brain for things other than writing and taking photos.

In this post, I’m taking it alllll the way back to the beginning. After we packed our bags and farewelled family, we jetted off from Sydney to Santiago, Chile. After a few days finding our feet, getting over the jet-lag and exploring Santiago we boarded a local bus and travelled the few hours south to the coastal port town of Pichilemu. With its cactus-lined cliffs and rugged coastline, Pichilemu felt like the Chile I had dreamt of before arriving. The locals lived life in the slow lane and nothing seemed to be worthy of doing it in a rush. People were passionate about their food, even more passionate about their wine and life centred around the ocean.

Looking back to small town of Pichilemu.

Our days consisted of riding bicycles through the rolling hills outside of town to Punta de Lobos. We would sit on the headland watching surfers, taking photos and eating. Late in the afternoon, we would meander back into town stopping for a beer or two along the way. Life was simple. We made our way north via the graffitied town of Valparaiso to San Pedro de Atacama. Desert living presented us with some unique experiences and vast open spaces. We rode bicycles for 40km through one of the driest deserts on earth, taking in scenes we would have missed if we had made the journey by car.

I chose these photos as they remind me of the emotions and feelings I had when I arrived in Chile. It was a mix of nervous energy, excitement at what the next six months would bring and pure elation at once again being on the road for an extended period of time.

Enjoy and safe travels, Louie.

Punta de Lobos, Chile.The Atacama Desert.We were pretty happy to be on the road again!This place is called the Valley of the Moon for obvious reasons.The alleyways of Valparaiso.I came across this lone tree about 15km out of San Pedro de Atacama.Chilean sunsets were on par with anywhere else I have seen.I spent close to half an hour shooting this little guy. He was happy enough to just stand there and look at me while he soaked up the sun.There were surprise artworks around every corner in Valpo.The edge of the Valley of the Moon.Valpo.

Swimming in the salt pools was harsh on the eyes but floating effortlessly, staring up at the sky in the middle of the desert was something we will never forget.My dream house on the point.I had wanted to surf this place for some time….Check.It was cold, with lots of water moving around but there were a few small ones.Melding into the artwork.Old Blue Eye.Riding around the countryside on bicycle gave us time to soak it all in.

What an amazing trip! 6 months away! I’m sure it was hard to go back but wow, memories to last a lifetime. Gorgeous photos. I would say you are right to not be as career oriented as your friends. Experiences far outweigh a title at work or a big paycheck. I especially love the perspective shot at the Valley of the Moon.